So I'm dusting off my POTF2 Ree-Yees with a Pampers baby-wipe and wondering, what's the future looking like for him and his merry band of 500-1000 figures that comprise my collection?

I've made a couple of SW toy runs in the past month, and ended up only buying an Icons Captain America instead. I've flipped lazily through full pegs of figures at WM and Target and TRU. Holographic Ki-adi Mundi. Barada. Utapau clone trooper. Blue senate guard reissue. Bo-ring.

With no new movies and various cryptic hints on the Web about a TV series, I wonder if retailers have the patience we and Hasbro do to keep this line going. I fear that as sales slowly decline, less and less shelf space will be alotted to SW toys, until WM nixes the line altogether in a year or so. Then the other chains will follow, and that will be that.

Is that unlikely to happen? I wonder. I also wonder if we're afraid to talk about it. I don't see too many current discussions on the topic, at least in SSG's forums. Is that because there's no need to think or worry about it at present, or do I need to look a little harder? And am I being too pessimistic, or just jumping the gun?

I mean, I know Hasbro is all gung-ho about the end waves of Saga and the supposed greatness that will be the line in 2007. I am a little eager to get my mitts on some of that cool stuff, I have to admit. But will retailers be willing or able to give our collectibles the shelf space?

2-1B

09-03-2006, 09:32 PM

I'm out of the figure collecting business, have been for awhile now. A few exceptions, sure, like that Lucas Family Set and the Holiday Vader I picked up from Brian's Toys at a convention. Other than that, I'm not really buying any figures. 2018 doesn't mean anything to me since I've pretty much stopped collecting.

Rocketboy

09-03-2006, 09:42 PM

I've been out of the collecting thing for years now (before TPM), picking up the occasional figure every once in a while when I really liked them.
Since ROTS, I've only picked up 7 figures and 2 of those were just yesterday.

Kidhuman

09-03-2006, 10:13 PM

Hasbro can keep the line going, but thjey need to stop all the rehashes. If it is new figures, the collectors will keep coming back. Alot of collectors here have stopped their completeist ways(sans slicker) If they mix their asst's correct they can do it. With out movies it will be hard. A TV show isnt going to keep the same characters. The 30th anniversary will help a little as it will get kids into it. That being said, it might turn into an E-tailer thing in a few years or a Hasbro toy shop free for all if they go that route. &&

dr_evazan22

09-04-2006, 06:53 PM

Supposedly SW was / still is Hasbro's strongest brand. It seems to get decent real estate at TRU. A little less at Target, then even less at WM. I still like to get the new, never-been-made-before figs, but, like kh said, there are just too many rehashes.

Then there's all the rehashes of the vehicles too, like the current X-Wing or TIE fighter. I already have at least 2 of the large X-wings. Then there's the TIE... Hasbro retools one part one year; a couple years later retool another part and rerelease it. Why not make a defiitive version? I know that a recent "Ask Hasbro" question was asked about this. It just sucks when it seems like accountants and/or lawyers run a company.

plasticfetish

09-04-2006, 07:45 PM

With no new movies and various cryptic hints on the Web about a TV series, I wonder if retailers have the patience we and Hasbro do to keep this line going. I fear that as sales slowly decline, less and less shelf space will be allotted to SW toys, until WM nixes the line altogether in a year or so. Then the other chains will follow, and that will be that.

Is that unlikely to happen?It's not a bad question, and it is something that we've talked about just a little here -- though the conversation always seems to turn into a "these are the 50 figures that I would like to see made" kind of thing.

The fact is, for the line to continue, and for it to generate a wide enough interest with the entire Star Wars toy buying audience, (this includes the "kids" that most collectors refuse to identify as being Hasbro's main focus), there needs to be some kind of media tie in.

That can be as simple as a new DVD release, a new cartoon or live action TV show, or maybe even a big new game. Lucas and Co. Seem fairly adept at keeping us hooked by teasing us with promises of new shows. We may be looking at a time that's similar to the dead time between ROTJ and TPM, but I doubt it, I doubt that they'll let this cash cow lie down for long.

Right?

So... Uh, yeah... now here's my list of 50 figures that I'd like to see made...

So... Uh, yeah... now here's my list of 50 figures that I'd like to see made...

1) Padme in Adidas track suit.

I hope they make a zipper up and 1/2 unzipped variant.&

pbarnard

09-04-2006, 10:28 PM

Have a saying from other boards: OMG, DETH OF TEH LINE !1!

shammykenobi

09-04-2006, 10:35 PM

As far as the line dying off, I'm not sure that will happen. I mean Hasbro re-started the star wars line way back in 95...that was a good four years before TPM and I believe at that time it hadn't been confirmed if the prequel trilogy was even going to be made...I think it's safe to say that there will be enough of a fan base to keep it going...I mean think of all the people our age, that aren't collectors but saw the movies when they were kids and then they show them to their sons and daughters...voila!!! Instant market...I think the only real threat would be if WM or some other retailer just completely stopped carrying them, and I believe that before that would happen they would negotiate with Habro to purchase them at a lower price...I mean that wouldn't be passed on to the consumer, but I know for a fact that WM can be very persuasive with a manufacturer about the wholesale price that they will pay for something.

Kidhuman

09-04-2006, 10:38 PM

The only difference to the beginning of the end and end is at the beginning they were all new figures. Now at this point, there are rehashes, reissues, kit bashed figs, and before you know it, we will get Luke eating a Reese Peanut Butter cup figure.&

plasticfetish

09-04-2006, 10:52 PM

before you know it, we will get Luke eating a Reese Peanut Butter cup figure.Will that come with a peanutbutter cup? I really like those... I'd buy that figure if they included the candy.

chrisc

09-05-2006, 01:17 AM

I hope they make a zipper up and 1/2 unzipped variant.&

How about a fully detailed 12" doll with removable clothes! And when I say detailed, I mean exactly detailed! :lipsrsealed: :lipsrsealed:

Tycho

09-05-2006, 04:20 AM

I think most of you are well aware of my opinion on this topic already.

That being said, our Top 50 list we composed over months of voting efforts here is very important to me. I'm sticking around for many of those figures (and there could be as many as about 200 more of them that were never made yet).

I won't be buying the rehashes, recards, or even tremendously improved resculpts (well, maybe a great Han Solo carbonite). I never was a "collector." I have a huge amount of figures - probably something like 3,000 or more - but to make dioramas not collect packaged products.

So we'll see where it goes. I must admit, I don't care too much these days, but I plan to keep what I have and improve the way I display it.

plasticfetish

09-05-2006, 01:08 PM

That being said, our Top 50 list we composed over months of voting efforts here is very important to me.Don't get me wrong, that list in its proper context -- it's own thread -- is very important. I think that we (and other sites doing a similar thing) have inspired Hasbro to put out some great figures in the past year or so.

It's just that what we want on our "dream list" may have nothing to do with where this hobby is really going.

Honestly, I think it's been good lately. We've had some cool figures, some very good remakes of older ones, and there's a lot of promise on the horizon coming from exclusives, etc. If anything, I'm just saying that I'm not too worried about the future.

Rogue II

09-05-2006, 02:29 PM

I don't know if this has been answered in the Hasbro Q&A or interviews, but...

When Hasbro develops lines like the Custom Choppers, SW Transformers, or even the Epic Force, does it take budget away from the 3.75" line? They obviously take up shelf space sitting at the retailers. And, are less figures/vehicles/playsets being produced because of that?

InsaneJediGirl

09-06-2006, 03:06 PM

Like Caesar,I've pretty much stopped collecting as well. The only thing exciting(for me anyways) are the Dark Horse figures coming out. As for much of anything else,it can stay on the pegs.

Is the line waning?I think so,it certainly wasnt as hyped as years past,but then again no new movies coming out. I wouldnt be suprised if the line ended or became online exclusives in a few years.

pbarnard

09-06-2006, 05:37 PM

I don't know if this has been answered in the Hasbro Q&A or interviews, but...

When Hasbro develops lines like the Custom Choppers, SW Transformers, or even the Epic Force, does it take budget away from the 3.75" line? They obviously take up shelf space sitting at the retailers. And, are less figures/vehicles/playsets being produced because of that?

So far the answer has been no as far as once it has been settled on what molds they need to make.

decadentdave

09-06-2006, 06:53 PM

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it seems like sales are going pretty strong. On Monday I went to TRU and they were stocked with Clone Wars Gunships and TIE Fighters and today I go in and they only have a couple Gunships and one TIE (which I bought) left. On the other hand, I go to Walmart everyday and it's the same assortment of Saga figs on the pegs: Poggle the Lesser, Battle Droid Threepio, Greatest Heroes and Heroes and Villains repacks, Unleashed Battle Packs (they still haven't dropped the price on these) Custom Choppers (yuck) and Titanium Ultimate. What does this mean? Vehicles for 3 3/4" sell like hot cakes even when they are overpriced exclusives. New figures don't stay on the pegs but repacks linger and clog the pegs so retailers aren't re-ordering case assortments. Extension lines like Unleashed, Custom Choppers and Titanium Ultra are amiss with collectors. Note to Hasbro: Stick with the core 3 3/4" line and vehicles. Develope playsets and expanded universe vehicles (ala mini-rigs).

Tycho

01-28-2007, 02:09 PM

I found this thread and then posts from all of us abound about us making finds on recent toy runs (for the final Saga2 figs) and how many of us are excited for the TAC figures and comics 2-packs.

Going on through the first half of 2007, the state of the hobby looks pretty good after all.